“Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar” is appropriately titled, as it is the second production of Hank Williams’ wife Audrey. Thankfully, we aren’t subjected to her singing in this film as she does in “Country Music on Broadway”. The plot deals with “funnyman” Arnold Stang, whose wife (played by Pamela Hayes) is trying to bring the Opera to their local theater. Things don’t quite work out, and instead, Arnold somehow snags “30 Great Country Stars” to appear (much to his wife’s dismay). There’s a lot of backstage “banjo” buffoonery, courtesy of the antics of Bowery boys Huntz Hall and Leo Gorcey.
But the real point of the movie is the music of course. Most of the stars perform two songs each. They are introduced by Hank Williams, Jr. road manager and songwriter Merle Kilgore.
It was released in 1966 by Marathon Pictures. It’s in Eastman Color and “SuperScope” (whatever that is). The Trailer though is in standard definition, black and white.
The Stars include:
Kitty Wells
Webb Pierce
Lefty Frizzell
Carl and Pearl Butler
Bill Monroe
Little Jimmy Dickens
Del Reeves
George Hamilton IV
Faron Young
Minnie Pearl
Sonny James
Pete Drake
Dottie West
Billy Walker
Connie Smith
Johnnie Wright
Homer and Jethro
It’s certainly worth watching if you’re a fan of classic country.
You can find many more clips from the movie on the GatorRock channel on YouTube.
